The Bohemian: Notre Dame de Namur University’s Literary/Arts Magazine

Notre Dame de Namur University's literary arts magazine

The Bohemian’s editorial board, at a lighter moment

Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) has a long tradition of publishing literary/arts magazines, edited by students. The current magazine, The Bohemian, started in 1991, and the latest issue was just published this past spring.

The new issue, with full-color printing and almost 100 pages of content, includes fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and artwork by Notre Dame de Namur students and faculty, as well as writers outside the university.

A new feature in this issue is work by students at San Mateo County’s Juvenile Hall, where NDNU students have been tutoring young people and working with them on their writing. The incarcerated youth tell unforgettable stories about the obstacles they have faced at an early age: earning a living at age nine, dealing with a parent’s deportation, struggling with untreated ADHD and mental health issues.

Notre Dame de Namur University students can work on The Bohemian magazine through a course where they receive credit, or they can participate in editing and production through a campus club. The editorial meetings often include 15 to 20 participants, a great opportunity to hone teamwork skills. According to Diana Molina, a senior who worked on this year’s issue, that number did not produce contention: “We managed to work together well, despite the size of the editorial board. The editors tried to stay open-minded, taking into account that everyone has a different writing style.”

Diana also feels that her social media skills improved as a result of working on The Bohemian. “I was the social media manager, and we expanded the magazine’s reach on Instagram and other platforms this year,” she says.

Faculty advisor Professor Pearl Chaozon Bauer feels that working on The Bohemian is instructive for students in many ways: “In producing the magazine, the students learn to be better critical readers as well as expand their appreciation of different modalities of art. But what I like best about The Bohemian is that the students can really feel that they are part of an effort that produces something of value.  It’s an experience they will always remember, and having a copy of the volume reminds them of their hard work and teamwork.”

The spring launch event for latest issue of The Bohemian had a great turnout of 60 participants. Students took part in an open mike, reading their contributions to the journal.

“Not that many colleges still have a print magazine with the high-quality production values of The Bohemian,” Diana says. “It’s something you can feel really proud of.”

For more information on applying to Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU), please visit the admissions page.

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